Tuesday 10 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tahir ul Qadri announces return to Pakistan on June 23

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LONDON (Web Desk) - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr. Tahir ul Qadri announced on Tuesday that he (Qadri) would return to Pakistan on June 23rd.According to a statement issued by PAT, people’s revolution would kick off on June 23.During the last week, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain met with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri and announced to support the mission of Shaikh-ul-Islam Dr Tahirul Qadri of changing the system and of Tehrik-e-Insaf chief’s against rigging.Earlier, PAT chief had said that the current parliament was formed while violating articles 213 and 218 of the constitution, adding that it is now an obligation of the people to terminate the current government and system.Qadri said that the administrative structure of the country needs a complete revamp and that ‘Raiwind palace’ will not be able to defend their corruption. He said that the flow of people will cleanse everything.

CCNS's meeting: Govt decides to launch operation in North Waziristan

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The meeting of the Cabinet Committee on National Security (CCNS), chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, held on Tuesday at PM House.According to the sources, the meeting decided to launch operation in North Waziristan and some areas of FATA.The meeting was announced shortly after terrorists attacked Karachi airport in an assault that left 29 dead.Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief of the General Staff General Ashfaq Nadeem, Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting.The internal security and Pak-Afghan border situation came under detailed review while a decision was made to strengthen the mechanism for intelligence sharing.

Reuven Rivlin elected as 10th president of Israel

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israels parliament on Tuesday elected Reuven Rivlin, a far-right member of the ruling Likud party, to be the nations 10th president when Shimon Peres steps down next month.Known for his affable character and quirky sense of humour, the 74-year-old former parliamentary speaker will take over when Peres retires at the end of July, drawing a line under what many regard as a golden age of the presidency.A lawyer by profession, Rivlin has won widespread support from across the political spectrum for his determined defence of democracy and civil rights.But his political outlook is diametrically opposed to that of Peres, being a firm opponent of a Palestinian state and a keen backer of the settlements.And he will have a tough act to follow, with Peress charisma and global standing enabling him to transcend the largely ceremonial position of the presidency and use it to promote a political message of peace.Announcing the results of a run-off vote, parliamentary speaker Yuli Edelstein said Rivlin had defeated his centrist challenger Meir Sheetrit by 63 votes to 53 in a secret ballot of the Knessets 120 MPs.The other three candidates, former politician Dalia Itzik, retired Supreme Court justice Dalia Dorner and chemistry Nobel Laureate Dan Shechtman were all eliminated in a first round of voting.- Bitter pill for Netanyahu -In a televised joint news conference, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose bitter dislike of Rivlin made headlines in the weeks running up to the vote, offered Rivlin his congratulations.I want to wish you great success, said the premier who had only begrudgingly backed his partys candidate at the 11th hour after his well-publicised and frantic efforts to find an alternative failed.You have two main missions facing you: to unite all the people... and to represent Israel to the world, he said.In an emotional acceptance speech punctuated by puns, but delivered in a voice which at times broke with emotion, Rivlin said he was no longer a man of politics but of the people.I am no longer party man but a man of all the people, he said before joining in a champagne toast led by the speaker.Congratulations poured in.Today is a festive day said a beaming Naftali Bennett, head of the far-right Jewish Home party who is ideologically very close to Rivlin.Israel has gained a nationalist, Zionist president who loves the land of Israel and the people of Israel, a president who believes in the right of the people to its land and isnt afraid of saying it.Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon praised his Jewish and democratic values.Rivlin... will be an important element in connecting with different strata of society, bringing people together, and in the uncompromising struggle against violence, xenophobia and racism against anyone who is different, he said.- Greater Israels president -But many Israeli commentators were sanguine about Rivlins political bent and what he would use the presidency to try to achieve.Rivlin is far to the right of the clear Israeli consensus, he is opposed to the two-state solution, he is an out-and-out supporter of the settlement enterprise on both sides of the separation fence, commentator Ben Caspit wrote in Maariv on Tuesday.Commentator Ari Shavit wrote in Haaretz newspaper last week that Rivlin would exploit the presidential institution to advance the West Bank settlement project, which he worships, and the one-state solution he believes in.Peres, the last surviving member of Israels founding fathers, is due to wrap up his seven-year term at the end of July, just a week shy of his 91st birthday.Commentators say his departure is likely to switch the presidencys focus from international affairs to more domestic matters.

Syria begins freeing prisoners after Assad amnesty

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syria has begun releasing prisoners, many of whom were held without charge, under the broadest amnesty the country has seen since the Assad clan took power nearly 50 years ago.The amnesty declared by President Bashar al-Assad came a week after his controversial re-election as he seeks to portray himself as the champion of reconciliation in the war-torn country.Assad is due to be sworn in for a new term on July 17.This is the most important amnesty since Hafez al-Assad (the presidents father and predecessor) came to power nearly 45 years ago, said human rights lawyer and ex-prisoner of conscience Anwar al-Bunni.He said the amnesty should cover tens of thousands of prisoners behind bars because of the anti-terror law passed in July 2012, more than a year into an anti-regime revolt.According to Bunni, dozens of prisoners began to be released from Adra prison (in Damascus province) yesterday (Monday) and the releases will continue today.State television showed dozens of prisoners being freed in Hama in central Syria.The amnesty is unprecedented because it extends for the first time to those accused under the countrys anti-terrorism legislation.The government has dubbed all of those opposed to Assads rule -- armed opposition fighters and peaceful activists alike -- of terrorism, and used the law to imprison high-profile dissidents.The amnesty is also the first to offer clemency to foreign jihadists fighting for the opposition, as long as they hand themselves in within a month.Army deserters will be given full pardons if they hand themselves in within three months of the decree, according to the text.But it was unclear how many prisoners might be freed under the amnesty, as previous clemency decisions have not seen large numbers of detainees released.This amnesty should not be yet another false promise, and the released should not be replaced by new activists being wrongfully imprisoned, Nadim Houry, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Middle East and North Africa division, told AFP.- Prominent releases expected -Lawyer Michel Shammas said it was unclear how the decree would apply for thousands of people detained in branches of Syrias notorious security establishment, where torture is systematic.But both he and Bunni said several prominent figures were expected to be freed.Mazen Darwish, Hani Zaitani and Hussein Ghreir will be released, as will activist Leyla Awad, psychologist Jamal Nawfal and Raneem Maatuq, daughter of (jailed lawyer) Khalil Maatuq, Shammas said.But there is no meaning for an amnesty if it doesnt include all the detainees, and we dont know yet how the decree will be applied for more than 50,000 people being held in security branches.Darwish, Ghreir and Zaitani were arrested in February 2012 in a raid on the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) where they work.The three face trial for activities such as monitoring online news and publishing the names of the dead and disappeared.Meanwhile, Homs Governor Talal al-Barazi told AFP that more than 100 people who handed themselves over to authorities after being trapped by a nearly two-year siege of the central city will be at home within 72 hours.Assad issued the amnesty five days after securing another seven-year term in Syrias first multi-candidate presidential vote, which the opposition and much of the international community denounced as a farce.Voting took place only in regime-held territory, amid a raging conflict that has killed more than 162,000 people in three years, and excluded any anti-regime opponents from standing.On Tuesday, state television broadcast footage of Assad meeting Maher al-Hajjar and Hassan al-Nuri, the two regime-approved candidates who stood against him but who together secured less than 12 percent of the votes cast.During their meeting, Assad said the citizens turnout showed very clearly the strength of the Syrian people and their determination to decide their destiny all alone, despite very difficult circumstances.Since the anti-Assad revolt erupted, the regime has blamed all violence on a foreign-backed terrorist plot.

US gives BP first license to fly drone over land

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Cautious US aviation regulators announced Tuesday they have given oil company BP the first commercial license to fly a drone aircraft over land.The Federal Aviation Administration gave BP and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) builder AeroVironment permission to use a drone for surveys of oil exploration and pipeline areas in Alaskas Prudhoe Bay area.The surveys began on Sunday, using AeroVironments hand-launched, camera-equipped, four and a half foot (1.4 meter) long Puma AE aircraft.These surveys on Alaskas North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft, said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx.The technology is quickly changing, and the opportunities are growing.The FAA has placed very tight restrictions on the use of drones as it studies how to regulate them and maintain public safety.Earlier it permitted oil companies to use them for surveys over Artic waters. But with the cost of a UAS falling sharply, a number of companies, from mining companies to movie production and photography firms, are seeking licenses to operate drones on a commercial basis.To get permission to fly, the companies must show their drones would not affect security and that they would be in the public interest.A number of public agencies have already been authorized to fly drones for public service purposes, such as for security, rescue or weather forecasting.

11-year-oldfrom Newv York wins Google Doodle competition

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NEW YORK (Web Desk) - An eleven-year-old from New York beat thousands of other entries to get her drawing Back to Mother Nature on Google's homepage on Monday.Audrey Zhang won the 2014 Doodle 4 Google competition and Google turned her drawing into a moving animation after asking for drawings with the theme of If I Could Invent One Thing to Make the World a Better Place....Zhang was inspired to draw a doodle of an exotic water purifying machine when she learned how many children in the world lack the ability to get clean water.Students across the country were asked to redesign the Google logo to reflect the theme, If I could invent one thing to make the world a better place. Out of more than 100,000 submissions, 250 state finalists, 50 state winners and five national age group winners, 11-year-old Audrey Zhang of New York won.

Pakistan repels second Taliban attack on Karachi airport

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KARACHI (AFP) - Taliban gunmen attacked a security post outside Pakistans Karachi airport on Tuesday, a day after an all-night siege by the militants left 37 dead and extinguished a tentative peace process.The latest assault on the airport raised further questions about the authorities ability to secure key facilities in the face of a resurgent enemy, and came as air force jets pounded suspected militant hideouts in the northwest, killing 25 people.The attack on the security post targeted an entry point to an Airport Security Force (ASF) camp 500 metres (yards) from the airports main premises, and around a kilometre from the passenger terminal.Police, paramilitary rangers and army all raced to the site but officials later reported they had not traded fire with the militants and there had been no casualties.Two people came towards the ASF (Airport Security Force) checkpost and started firing, Colonel Tahir Ali, a spokesman for the force, told reporters. Nobody has been killed or injured, he added.Army spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa confirmed the incident was over, but tweeted that three to four assailants were involved, while a senior official at the scene who wished to remain anonymous said the gunmen may have fled to a nearby shanty settlement.We are chasing them, we will get them, its not easy to hide here, there are no buildings, no population except for two small shanty towns nearby, the official told AFP.The Taliban later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in response to air strikes in the tribal areas, and vowed further unrest.Todays attack on ASF (Airport Security Force) in Karachi is in response to the bombardment on innocent people in Tirah Valley and other tribal areas, spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said. We will continue such attacks.Flights resumed later on Tuesday after temporarily being suspended for the second time in as many days, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.- Bodies retrieved -Meanwhile tragic details came to light about the grisly deaths of seven workers who hid inside the airports cold-storage facility to escape Mondays siege -- but were later engulfed by flames.Shahid Khan said his 32-year-old nephew Inayats last words were to his wife, whom he called at 11:25pm (1825 GMT) on Sunday night as the raid by 10 militants armed with guns, grenades and rocket launchers began.His nephew said The attack is on our office, they are showering the office with rockets and bullets, according to Khan.That was the last contact and then the line got cut -- but we did not know it would be forever, he told AFP while sobbing. The workers burnt remains were retrieved on Tuesday.Earlier in the morning, Pakistani jets launched air strikes on a tribal district overrun by militants in apparent retaliation for Mondays siege.The military said nine terrorist hideouts were destroyed in the raids, the latest in a succession of attacks carried out by the Pakistani military in the tribal belt this year after talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down.The last was in North Waziristan in late May, killing at least 75 people and triggering an exodus of some 58,000 people -- half of them in the past few days -- in fear of a ground offensive that has been anticipated for years.The militarys death toll from Tuesdays strikes, in the restive Tirah Valley area of Khyber tribal district, could not be independently verified. The district was also targeted in April, with aerial bombing that killed dozens.- Resurgent Taliban -Pakistan entered into talks with the Taliban in February and agreed upon a ceasefire in March, which broke down a month later.Hasan Askari, an analyst, said the period of talks had allowed the Taliban to gather their strength while the government dithered.The Taliban are very clear so far as their targets are concerned -- they want to humble the Pakistani state and they are striving for it, he said.They re-grouped themselves during the last couple of months as the talks process continued and they can do these things for the next couple of weeks and then they will need time to regroup again, he added.

UAE in initial accord with US to fight tax evasion

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ABU DHABI (AFP) - The UAE finance ministry said Tuesday it has reached an agreement in principle with the United States to cooperate with Washington in its fight against tax evasion.Starting from July 1, the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) will be implemented, and institutions in nearly 70 countries will work under its rules.The law demands that the foreign banks, investment houses and others provide information to US authorities on accounts held by US citizens and firms.If they do not do so, the US Treasury says it could institute a 30 percent withholding tax on payments made from the United States to the financial institution, essentially a stiff tax on their US business.UAE Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid al-Tayer said that, under this agreement, the UAE will be treated as having in effect an intergovernmental agreement on FATCA.Meetings and business workshops will be conducted at different committee levels during the coming months to finalise all required procedures in regards to signing the final draft of the agreement, he added in a statement.US officials said this month that more than 77,000 banks and other financial institutions worldwide have joined its fight against tax evasion.Looking for ways to close its budget deficit and clamp down on tax avoidance, Washington has particularly aimed the FATCA effort at traditional tax havens like Switzerland.On May 19. Credit Suisse was fined $2.6 billion for actively helping Americans hide money to avoid taxes over many years.US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is expected in the UAE June 16 on a three-day trip that will also take him to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Germany.During his visit, Lew will discuss the state of the global economy, as well as regional economic issues, a Treasury statement said.His meetings will also focus on other issues of common interest, including continued cooperation on efforts to disrupt the financial and support networks of terrorist organisations.

China Mobile buys $880 mn stake in Thailand's True Corp.

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BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai telecommunications firm True Corp. has agreed to sell an 18-percent stake in its business to China Mobile for about 28.6 billion baht ($880 million) under a strategic partnership.True said it would use the money to reduce its debts and pursue its goal of becoming an all-powerful leading convergence telecommunications player, bringing together broadband Internet, pay TV and mobile telephone services.The deal will transform us into a profitable company and subsequently into a formidable telecommunication player in the region, True Corp. CEO Supachai Chearavanont said in a statement.True said the partnership, which comes despite investor uncertainty in the wake of a military coup in Thailand on May 22, reflects the international business communitys confidence in Thailands long-term economy.The Thai firm, part of the agriculture-to-retail empire of billionaire tycoon Dhanin Chearavanont, also plans to raise an additional 36.4 billion baht by selling new shares to existing shareholders.China Mobile, the worlds biggest mobile operator by subscribers, said the purchase reflected its international expansion and search for strategic investment opportunities overseas.China Mobile views True Groups unique convergence business strategy and long-term vision as strong potential to bring about long-term growth profitability, China Mobile CEO Li Yue said in the statement.

PML-N MPA Rana Jamil recovered from Mardan: family sources

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NANKANA SAHIB (Dunya News) – Member Punjab Assembly Rana Jamil was recovered from Mardan District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.According to family sources, Rana Jamil left for Islamabad from Mardan amid tight police security.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Member of Punjab Assembly (PP-174) Rana Jamil Hassan was kidnapped near Motorway’s Pindi Bhattian Interchange on May 31.Rana Jamil along with his wife was on his way to Islamabad when unidentified armed kidnappers took them away near Sial roundabout at Pindi Bhattian Interchange.Later, the kidnappers freed Rana Jamil’s wife with a message to arrange Rs 50 million ransom amount. The kidnappers told that they would contact after three days.Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif had taken notice of the incident and directed the police to take all possible measures for early recovery of the MPA.

Football: Yaya Toure injury doubt for opening game against Japan

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ABIDJAN (AFP) - Ivory Coasts African Player of the Year Yaya Toure is doubtful for their opening World Cup group game with Japan on Saturday, coach Sabri Lamouchi told the Ivorian press on Tuesday.The 31-year-old Manchester City star -- whose performances and 20 goals for his club last season were instrumental in bringing them the Premier League title -- is still struggling with a hamstring injury he suffered in the title deciding win over West Ham on the last day of the league season.He finished the season injured and worn out, said Lamouchi.He has not yet resumed team training and has to undergo a rehabilitation programme.We are going to do everything in our power so that he will be able to start or at least come on during the game with Japan.Toure, who could be in line to be named African Player of the Year for a fourth time based on his performances for Manchester City, is pivotal to Ivory Coasts hopes of reaching the knockout stages for the first time.They failed to progress from the group stage in 20006 and 2010 but Lamouchis side have been given a kinder draw this time round with aside from Japan their other opponents being Colombia, who are missing their talismanic striker Radamel Falcao, and goalshy Greece.

Tennis: Mallorca set for new WTA grass-court tournament

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PARIS (AFP) - A new womens grass-court tennis tournament will be held on the Spanish island of Mallorca starting in 2016, the WTA has announced.The 32-player event will take place on the home island of mens world number one Rafael Nadal two weeks before Wimbledon, at the same time as the Birmingham tournament.With the grass court season set to expand next year, it was important for the WTA to provide players and fans alike with a fresh opportunity to experience the expanded grass court tennis season, WTA Chair and CEO Stacey Allaster said.The tournament will be played in the second week of a three-week grass-court window between the claycourt French Open and Wimbledon.The venue will feature five permanent natural grass courts, including a retail development and tennis academy.Construction and maintenance of the courts will be done in collaboration with The All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Football: Joe Cole joins Aston Vila

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LONDON (AFP) - Former England midfielder Joe Cole has prolonged his top-flight career by joining Aston Villa.The Birmingham club, who flirted with relegation from the English Premier League, before finishing five points clear of the drop last season, announced Tuesday that Cole had signed a two-year deal.Former England midfielder Cole, 32, was a free agent after being released by West Ham last season.Cole, who has also played for Chelsea and Liverpool, won 56 caps for England.Im really excited, he told AVTV, the clubs in-house television station.It all happened really quickly, I got a call maybe a week or 10 days ago and it just felt like it was a really exciting place to come at this moment.Cole becomes Villas second pre-season signing after former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos arrived last week.Villa manager Paul Lambert is looking to revamp his squad despite the uncertainty caused by US-based owner Randy Lerners announcement last month that he wants to sell the club.Fans of the Midlands side -- champions of England in 1981 and European Cup winners a year later -- have seen their side battling relegation for each of the past two seasons but Cole believes the time is ripe for a revival.This is a massive club and theres a massive opportunity for the club to push on. That was the main factor, he said.I spoke to the gaffer (Lambert) and we have similar views on football. He didnt need to sell the club but he explained what the view is for the future and, like I said, that was the main thing. When I spoke to the manager I knew Id be signing.Ill be coming here and Ill be learning too. Obviously Ill bring my experience to the squad but you still learn every day and I want to learn.Cole has just finished a second spell at West Ham, the club where he made his name as one of the most talented English footballers of his generation.He moved from east to west London in 2003 after joining Chelsea in a 6.6 million ($11m) transfer.During his seven years at Stamford Bridge he won three Premier League titles and became an England regular before injuries saw him drop out of first-team contention.Cole joined Liverpool in 2010 but the move was not a success but a loan spell at French club Lille revived his career before he returned to where it all began fr him at Upton Park.However, he struggled for game time under Hammers manager Sam Allardyces plans, with Coles last Premier League in December when he scored in a 3-3 draw with West Bromwich Albion.Cole said: So far Ive been lucky enough to have a really good career but theres still a lot more I want to achieve. The fire is still burning in me.I want to play at the highest level and win things still and this club fits...Im as excited now as I was as a 16-year-old lad going into my first season with West Ham.

Govt striving hard to end loadshedding, terrorism: Maryam Nawaz

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MULTAN (Dunya News) - Chairperson Prime Ministers Youth Fee Reimbursement Scheme Maryam Nawaz has said that the government is working hard to end loadshedding and terrorism from the country.Addressing a ceremony after distributing cheques among the students under Prime Ministers Youth Fee Reimbursement Scheme here on Tuesday, she said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also cared about the fees of the students as their parents did.Maryam said the government was giving equal opportunities to youth for imparting them education.She said that the government would distribute 100,000 laptops among the students during the current year.Praising Prime Ministers Loan Scheme, Maryam said that the youth were running successful business after getting benefit from the programme. She said that the youth have returned first installment of the loan scheme.Condemning the terrorist attacks in Karachi and Taftan, Maryam Nawaz said that such incidents were a matter of concern for every patriotic Pakistani.

Football: Oxlade-Chamberlani in line for Uruguay return

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could return from injury in time for his sides second World Cup game against Uruguay, manager Roy Hodgson revealed on Tuesday.Oxlade-Chamberlain, 20, damaged ligaments in his right knee during a friendly against Ecuador last week, but he trained wearing a protective brace on Monday.Although he is expected to miss Englands opening Group D match against Italy in Manaus on Saturday, Hodgson is hopeful that the Arsenal man will be available to face Uruguay in Sao Paulo on June 19.Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain did very well, Hodgson told a press conference at Englands Urca training base in Rio de Janeiro.You may have seen the running he was doing -- very positive. He was running so well and so fast and we will be stepping up his recovery in due course.We are hoping (he will be back) for Uruguay, but theres no guarantee.Hodgson also allayed fears about the fitness of captain Steven Gerrard, who cut short his training session on Monday after complaining of tightness in his groin.There is nothing wrong with Steven Gerrard, Hodgson said.
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